Rail-joint.



n.1 1 n@ f. wal V11 v Patented My'16,1916.

M. '1.-vvlGH1n/1AN. EAIL JOINT. lAPPLICAATIQN FILED NOV. 25| 1913.

WTNESSES.'

M. 1. WIGHTMAN.

l, RAIL J'OINT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25| 19l3 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r HG.

Fq j

IN VENTO. BY

WITNESSES W2@ ATTORNEY'.

lileitftil@ ramener onirica.

J. WIGHTMAN, 0F SEATTLE. WASHINGTON. ASSIGNOR TO RAILWAYS" ACCES- SORIES COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, .A CORPORATION nait-Jorian' Specification of Letters Patent.

Pateiitediiliay iti, i916.

Application filed November 25, 1913. Serial No. 802,952.

-rail joints and which are adapted to unite rigidly and firmly the rails forming a trackway ofK a railroad; and the object of my'im'- provenient is to provide a rail joint which be so constructed that the abutting ends of twol rai-ls shall be united firmly so that there shall be no relative motionvof said abutting ends and any wave action under the weight ofa passing train will be the same through the rail junctures as it is through and along the body of the rails and when so united the top surface of the heads of suoli rails shall be maintained in practical alineinent, as rigidly and firmly as it would 1ioe 'if they were welded together., and

a further object of my -invention is to pro-- vide a rail joint adapted to secure and maintain said alinement regardless of difference in the sizes .of said rails dueto inaccuracies in rolling, and a further object of my invention is to'provide a rail joint, the parts of which are comparatively inexpensive to make and may be'readilyadjusted in positionl lor removed and replaced by like new parts.

l' `attain these objects. by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which?- Figure -l is a view in perspective of one form of my invention, while Fig. 2 differs lfrom' Fig. 1 only in the simplification of certain of itsparts. In said Figs. l and Q l have shown certain features which l do not claim in this application, but which l shall incorporate and claim in another application for United States Letters Patent which i shall file subsequent to the date hereof. ln Figs. 3 and 4 are shown a variation ofv form. wherein is introduced a tieplate supporting member,functioning to accomplish the same working result as' the construction shown in Figs. l and 2; Fig. 3` being a view in side elevation with a portion 'of one of its parts `broken awayg-Fig.

'-l being a .i'iew in vertical-section on broken line ila 4of Fig. B. Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of my invention, illustrating a form wherein 'a single bolt, centrally positioned, 'may Vbe made to lioldtwo rails in permanently rigid relation. Fig. (3 isla view in vertical cross-section on broken line :c of Fig. 7, and Fig. 7 illus- 'trates the same by a view in side elevation wherein a portion of the base plate is broken away. to more fully disclose other parts.l ln said Figs. (l and 7 I have shown features which I do not claim in this application, but which l shall incorporate and claim in another application for United States LettersFatent which I shall filel subsequent to the date hereof. Fig. S illustrates by alview in perspective, still another andpreferred form of a railjoint embodying my invention; Fig.. 9 is a view in perspective illus- 4trating the abutting ends of two rails wherein broken lines and arrows indicate, diagrammatically, points of support and direction of strainswhen two rails are joined in accordance with my invention, and Fig. l() is a view in perspective of a detail embodied in Figs. 6 'and 7. Y

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

It has been found that ,the steel rails, of any given form, employed in the construition of track-Ways of'railroads, are'not uniform in their cross-sectional dimensions. In some instances have found a difference between two rails of the same lot and kind amounting nearly to one-sixteenth of an inch in .the respective distances between the bottom of the bases and the top of the vheads of such rails. Generally I have found, however, that most frequently the greater part of such differences exists in the relative vertical dimensions of the rails webs, while the other parts of the, rails, comprising the heads and the bases, in most cases are practically luniform with respect 'to vertical dimensions.

Heretofore the forms of devices employed for joining rails whose webs varied in height have been defective to a degree that adjacent rails could notl be held permanently in xed relation, since such devices have been so constructed and applied that any diiference in the vertical' dimensions of the webs which were adjacent to each other was made manifest by an unequal pressure between to the top surface of the rail heads since any difference in the vertical dimensions of the respective heads of adjacent rails, generally, will be found to be negligible, and, furthermore, by my invention the parts applied between the bases and the heads of adjacent cure both such rails, against all relative movement whatsoever, except the necessary -movements under expansion and contraction. j

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated two abutting rail-ends 34, 34 on opposite sides of which y afford means whereby inde endent contact 6 against the upper surface o the base flange of each of the abutting rails is secured and the semi-circular shape ofsuch member 42- Aassures a one point equalizing contact *rails are sure to tightly fit and firmly se.

are placed fish plates 35 35, only one ofwhich is shown in the accompanying drawing. The fish plates 35, 35 are each provided,'on its top edge, with an outwardly projecting flange 36, under which flange 36 supporting blocks 37, 37 are adapted to abut at their upper ends. rI he supporting blocks 37, 374 are provided with notches on their outside surfaces Iwith which the ends --of a semi-circular pressure equalizing member 38 are adapted to engage, the lower edge of said semi-circular member' 38 being disposed to rest against an upwardly extended lug or member 39 that is provided, on base plate 40. The-rail joint illustrated in Fig. 1 is similarly constructed on both sides of the rail and by the action of its various parts the abutting rail-ends are held in suspended relation above said base plate and, under the pressure of a passing wheel load, the under surfaces of the rail heads are forced into intimate contact with the upper edges of the fish plates, when the lowermost ledges ofthe clamping members are pressed into close contact with the upper surfaces of the base flanges of the rails. By this form of construction the use of bolts for lateral pressure is rendered unnecessary.

'though they may advantageously be retained to hold the rails against longitudinal creeping or separation.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated aA form of rail joint in which are used fish'plates 41,- 41, only oneof which is shown, that are similar to the fish plates 35, 35 of Fig. 1l 'and wherein, on either side, a clamping member 42 operates to accomplish the combined function of the parts 37, 37 and 38 illustrated in Fig. 1. The clamp-ing member 42 is formed on its lower 'side with two legs or projections 43, only one of which is indicated, that against a lug 44 that is provided on a base 7 plate 45 which is similar 40ofFig.1. l j

It will readily be seenthat the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, besides insuring a continuing lateral supporting pres- 7 sure, has the advantage of automatically v equalizing the said pressure upon all of the clamping r embers, Aunder varying vertical stresses dutn moving loads.

In the device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 8 the combined functions of the fish platesj4l, 41 and the clamping members 42, 42. of Fig. 2, are accomplished by suitably formed fish plates 46,- 46, each of which is cut away on its lower edge intermediateit's two ends, as 8 shown in Fig. 3, to secure positive independent contact of each of said plates 46, 46 against the upper surface of the base fiange of each of the. rails 47, 47. The outer surfaces of the lower edges of the fish plates 46, 46 thus formed, bear-throughout their full length directly against the inner surfaces of the anges 48, 48 of a channel shaped base plate 49, which base plate 49 is 0 to the `base plate adapted to rest upon a transverse ridge 50 95 that is formed in arider plate 51 that .may

t be secured to a tie, as illustrated in Fig. 3,

the operation of this structure' being such that when a downward thrust is exerted on the abuttingends of the rails 47, 47, the fish plates 46, 46 will be forced inwardly and the head of each oftherails 47, 47 will be pressed downwardly'onto the top edge of the fish plates 46, 46, thus maintaining the under surface of such rail heads-"in fixed alinement and -maintaining the rails 47, 47, in a suspended position above the base plate 49, as illustratedin Fig. 4, the equalization of load pressure on the various parts forming the joint being secured by resting the 11o plate 49 on the ridge 50. i

In Fig. 5, which illustrates a theoretical rather than a practical embodiment of myinvention, 52, 52 are the abutting ends of two rails and 53, 53 are fish plates, only one 1 of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, that are adapted to secure the ends of the rails 52 in their proper position. The fish plates 53, 53 have their lower central portions cut away whereby bearing 1 surfaces 54, 54 are provided at the ends thereof. adapted to bear on the top surface of the base flange ofeach of the rails. the top edge of each of the'pl'ates 53. 531ming curved convexly wherelrvthe `bearing 1 of the rail heads on the top edge of each of said fish plates shall be at a point near the ends of such rails only, the said fish plates being secured to the rails by a single centrally positioned bolt 56 which extends through the web ofthe rails at their point of abutment.

ln this Fig. 5,1 have shown the upper supporting surface 55 of the fish 'plate' 53 as a curve, rather than a 'straight line, to better illustrate the principle underlying my invention, which is that of a rail joining means'coinprising four independent theo retical points of contact or pressure, a's dia? grammatically illustrated in Fig. 9. While inA practice one of these theoretical points must bear as a line, rather lthan as a point, so as to engage the head of each ofV two rails, at the junction thereof, nevertheless, the'total weight exerted by or upon both of said rails, when consideredv as a single unit, is sustained, theoretically, upon a sin* gleil point, as hereinafter more fully set forth. The radical departure of my invention from hitherto existing -practice, it will `therefore be seen, consists in the adapting of means for forcing both heads of two joined rails toward a# theoretical common point, in approach to which they become, both independently. and cordinately, rigidly su'spended or fixed, through the reciprocal action of all forces applied to, by, or upon, the completed unit, either initially at installation, or in subsequent actual service.

InFigs. 6 and 7 a base plate 57 is disposed on a railroad tie, or ties as 58, and provided with holes through which railroadspilres 59, 59 may be driven to secure the baseflanges 60, 60 of two rails, the heads 61, 6l of such rails being supported by fish l plates 62, 62 disposed one on each side of the rail webs, each to extend between the tops 'of the base flanges 60, 60 and the uiidersides of the heads 61, 61. l have shown bolts 68, 63 and nuts 64, 64: that may serve to aid in binding together vthe rails and the fish plates, but such bolts and nuts may, if desired, be dispensed with, since the weight of the rails and the action of the spikes 59, 59, by their downward pressure, serve to transmit a supporting strain through each of the outwardly and downwardly extending flanges plates 62,' 62 to the inner oblique ,surfaces 66, 66 of the upwardly projecting flangesof the base plate 57. The flange -of each of the fish plates 62 constitutes an integral part of said fish plate 62, as shown more particularly in- Fig. 10, and extends along the central portion thereof between the lvertical slots 67, 67 as shown in Fig. 7 thus'each of the rail ends servesto act as arch, being retained in its position by the wedgiiig actionof the surfaces 66 and 68.

Manifestly `the pressure on the inner oblique surfaces 66, 66 of the upwardly projecting flanges of the base plate 57, being exerted at a point centrally located between 65, 65 of the-fishl the keystone of an.l

the two ends or. points of Contact .of the Vfish plates 62 62 with the upper surfaces of the bases 60, 60.0f the abutting rails, causes equal pressure on each of. such surfaces irrespective 1of all differences in the dimen' noted that the inner surface 66 o f the flange.

of the base plate 57, is shown, in Fig. 6, as being straight, but it is obvious that said surface may be 'made correspondingly curved or angled to fit the outer surface 68 ofthe fiange'65, or both of said surfaces may be` otherwise shaped to produce substantially the saine result, t. e. equal piessure between the fish plates and the rails at each end of said fish plates.

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of'` a preferred and more practical form of rail joint embodying the essential features of my in.-

vention, as hereinbefore described, but in which the fish plates 70, 70 of whichonly one is shown, are slightly diifei'ent 4from the fish plates 62. 62 of Fig. 6, and in which four bolts 69, 69 69, 69 are provided to bind together the said fish plates and the rails 7l. 7l, which bolts are not, however, essential fortlie proper functioning of this form of my invention. A bolt 72,extending. downwardly through the flange 73 of each of the fish plates and through the base plate, serves tliesaine purpose as the spikes 59, 59 of Figs. 6 and 7. y

' Fig. 9 illustrates diagraniniatically the four points, (surfaces) of contact and the direction of strains in niyriail joint, shown in the structures of Figs. 6, 7 and 8; ln said Fig. 9, 74, 74"'4 are the points (surfaces) of pressure under'tlie heads 75, 75 of the two rails,- being the point (surface) of outward pressure exerted laterally on the (surface) 80, the said pressure is resolved into equalized and localized downward pres sures upon the points (surfaces) 77 and 7 9. on thebase flanges' of both rails. Thus, if the load is approaching iii the direction of the arrow, the pressure is at point (surface) 74, outward to point (surface) 80 and thence, simultaneously, to points (surfaces) 77 and 79 on the bases of both rails. Likewise,'if the load is approaching froni-the'opposite direction,- the pressure 1s at point (surface) 74, outward to point (surface) 80 and thence, simultaneously', to points (surfaces) 79, and 77. -It is therefore apparent that the resultant pressures, whether originatying from a load on one rail or the other, are

disposed identically the same. Hence, it #will be seen, each of the rail ends functions "as the keystone of a separate arch, each arch clear that in a rail junction embodying myy invention as described, any pressure in either arch, as above explained, due to welght that might rest wholly on one rail, at or near tlfe abutting ends of the two rails, would be simultaneously transferred to andV substantially duplicated in the otherat a predetermined ratio and hence any depression due .to Weight, would affect the end of one rail as much as it would the otherrail, to preserve a constant relation with respect to any movement or vibration of the ends thereof, and the structure must, therefore, continue indefinitely to function identically as at the beginning. In further elucidation of said Fig. 9, the four points of pressure therein diagrammatically shown may be considered as disposed in the approximate relative positions of the points of a geometrical tetrahedron, wherein the points 74, 74', considvariations resulting from wear, or any dif-J' ered as a unit, i. e., as a common center, comprise lthe upper point thereof and the points 77 and 79 are the two base points on a glven face. The point 80, therefore, is disposed at the remaining or opposite point of the base of said tetrahedron and, referring to Fig. 5, is represented by the bolt 56 of that theoretical structure. In Fig. 8, however, wherein I show my'preferred form of the invention, the saidbolt 56 of Fig. 5, is replaced in function by the flange 73 inipinging against the inclined inner surface of the fiange of the base plate.

It will be manifest upon consideration of the structures of Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, S and 0, embodying my invention, as hereinbefore described, that weight, either constant or yarying, when disposed at or near the junction of the abutting rails, will force all parts, by self adjustment, into more intimate contact, e., cause them to concentrate, regardless of of an arch exerts its ferences in dimensions resulting from nnperfections in the rolling process, in the same manner that wei vl`h1 upon the keystone im with a tendency to press all its members closer together; this result being in marked -distinction from hitherto existing practice wherein the component parts of all rail joining structures have tended, under service, to'disintegrate or' scatter.

Furthermore, the fastening of rails at their juncture, by means of an arch support, has hitherto been unsuccessfuf'for thereason that any looseness that existed or developed in the support of one of the said rails,

tended constantly to increase, resulting finally in a rigid support of but one of the rails, the other developingan ever increa'sing looseness.

It will be understood that the principle of my construction could be readily adapted to the alinement of the upper surfaces of rail heads, rather than the underjsurfaces thereof, as contemplated throughout this specification. To accomplish this result it would be only necessaryto form the upper surfaces of the fish plates or supporting members of such relative heights, for each of the rails, as would be required to compensate for any differences that mightexist in the sizes of the heads thereof.

Obviously, the form and dimensions of the different parts of a structure embodying my invention may be modified to suit different conditions of service without departing from the spirit thereof.

It will be further' understood that with rails rolled to a high degree of uniformity of size, the principle of my invention wouldv not be departed from if partsherein shown and described be reversed or turned upside down with respect to the points offcontact against heads and fianges of the rails.

I claim: v

l. In a rail joint of the class described, the combination of two abutting rail end portions, each supported in a separate arch, and means for equalizing the pressures in the said two arches.

2. In a rail joint of theclass described, the combination with two abutting rail end portions, of fish plates -engaging said rail ends, a supporting base plate, means associated with said fish plates and said base plate whereby said fish plates arecaused to be for automatically equalizing such pressure against both of the said rail ends.

3.- In a rail joint of the class described,

'the combination with the abutting end porytions of two rails, of fish plates disposed yone on each side thereof to engage 'with the -under surface of the head of each of said messes rails, each of said fish plates having its lower edge cut away for a portion of its 'length between its two ends whereby such ends' may rest one on the top surface of the base flange ofeach of said rails, and means for exerting an inwardly directed pressure upon each of said fish plates, said means being so disposed as to automatically equalize the said pressure against both ends of both 1o of said fish plates. y

' il. ln a rail joint of the class described, the combination with the abutting end portions of two rails, of fish plates disposed one on each side thereof to engage with the under surface of the head ofA each of said rails, each of said fish plates having its lower edge cut away for a portion of its length between its two ends whereby such ends-may rest one on thel top surface of the base ange of each of said rails,and means gaging with said fish plates whereby an inwardly directed pressure is exerted upon and automatically equalized against both ends of each of said sh plates regardless of the amount or relative position of the wheel load upon either of said rails.

5. ln a rail joint of the class described, the4 combination with the abutting end portions of tworails, of fish plates disposed one se on each side thereof to engage with the under surface of the head of each of said rails, each of said fish plates having its lower edge cut away for a portion of its length between its two ends whereby such ends may rest one on the top surface of the base flange of each of said rails, a base plate, and means disposed to support said rail ends and said sh plates in an arch-like structure.

6.111 a rail joint of the class described,

4o the Combination with the abutting end portions of two rails, of fish plates disposed one on each side thereof to engage with the under surface of the head and the top surface of the base flange of each of said rails, and means for exerting an inwardly directed pressure upon each of said fish plates2 said means being so disposed as to automatically equalize the pressure of each of said fish plates against both of the rails.

'ff' lnf''a rail joint of the class described, the combination with the abutting end portions of two rails, of fish plates, disposed one on each side thereof to engage with the under surface 'of the head and the top surface of the base flange'of each of said rails, means forexerting an inwardly directed pressure `upon each of said fish plates, and means for automatically equalizing the pressure of eachklof said sh plates against theunder 6o surfaces of the heads of both of the rails,

8'. ln a rail joint of the class described., the combination with the abutting end portions of two rails, of sh plates disposed one on each side thereof to engage with' the under surface of the head and the top' surface of the base flange of each of said rails, a base plate having upwardly projecting Aflanges disposed on either side of said rail ends, and means engaging with said flanges, whereby each of said fish plates shall be caused te exert an equal lateral pressure against both of the rails.

9. ln a rail j oint of the class described, the combination of two abutting rail end por tions, supporting members engaging said rail ends, a base plate, and means for resolving any pressure exerted upon either of said rail ends into equal pressures between said supportingmembers and both of said rails.

10. ln a rail joint of the class described, the combination of two abutting rail end portions, fish plates enga ging said rail ends, each of said fish plates having its, lower ed f cut away for a port-ion of its len n u its two ends, a liz leans l' directing a mechanically centered inward pressure upon said fish plates.

ll. ln a rail joint of the class described, in combination, the abutting end portions of two rails, supporting means, and com pression means so disposed that a wheel load on either of said rail ends shall be resolved into an inward pressure exerted by the said supporting means equally against late,

'both rails.

12. In a rail joint of the class described, in combination. the abutting end portions of two rails, clamping members supporting one of said rails in an arch and means for equalizing the pressure of said clamping members against both of saidrails. y

13. ln a rail joint, the combination of two abutting rail end portions, each supported in a separate arch and means for maintaining pressures in the said two arches in a predetermined ratio.

14e. In a'rail joint of the class described, the combination of two abutting rail end portions, supporting members engaging said rail ends; a base plate; and means 'for re-y solving any pressure exertcd upon either of said rail ends into pressures between said supporting members and beth of said rail ends in a predetermined ratio.

15. In a rail joint of the class described, in combination, the abutting end portions of two rails, supporting means, and compression means, so disposed that a wheel load on either of said rail ends shall be resolved into an inward pressure exerted by the said supporting means in a predetermined ratio against both rails. j

16. ln a rail joint of the class described, the combination withtwo abutting rail end portions, of a base plate; and supporting members adapted te engage said rail end portions and said base plate te support said` rail portions in arehed relationship above my name this 15th-day of November, A. D. said base plate, said supporting members 1913.

and-said base plate having such angular Wedging relation as to hold automatically, l MERLE'J' WIGHTMAN' 5 by frictional grip, against any relative Witnesses:

movement therebetween. JOHN S. ROGERS, L. E. MEACHAM.

ln Witness whereof,- I hereunto subscribe 

